Leagues Cup Preview: Inter Miami vs Rayados; Orlando City vs Club León | OneFootball

If there is one thing Matías Almeyda would probably like this weekend, it is for Lionel Messi to remember that he just played in a World Cup final, decide he is tired, and spend Saturday somewhere far away from a soccer field.

Unfortunately for Monterrey, Messi apparently has other plans.

Inter Miami and Rayados meet Saturday night at Nu Stadium in one of the most anticipated games of the 2026 Leagues Cup. Both teams are entering the second round of the competition under very different circumstances. Miami opened the tournament with a 4-2 victory over Atlético de San Luis, while Monterrey suffered a 2-1 defeat against Orlando City.

So, naturally, the pressure is on Monterrey. And naturally, Messi is waiting.

Inter Miami’s opening-night performance was essentially a reminder that giving Messi a football and 90 minutes is still a terrible idea. Atlético de San Luis actually scored first, but that only seemed to irritate the Argentine. Messi responded with two goals and an assist, while Telasco Segovia and Micael also found the net as the Herons eventually cruised to a 4-2 victory. 

The result also gave Messi another record: he became the all-time leading scorer in Leagues Cup history. Because apparently collecting trophies, MVP awards and records was not enough.

And now comes Monterrey

Rayados opened their campaign with a 2-1 loss to Orlando City, with Antoine Griezmann and Tyrese Spicer scoring for the MLS side before Hugo Cuypers pulled one back late. That result means Monterrey cannot afford another defeat if it wants to keep its qualification hopes comfortably alive.

Almeyda, however, is taking the challenge with a sense of humor — perhaps because crying during a press conference would be frowned upon.

Asked about Messi’s spectacular return to action, the Argentine coach joked that he hoped the Inter Miami star would simply decide he didn’t feel like playing against Monterrey.

“He’s a machine,” Almeyda said, praising Messi’s talent and desire to play despite his recent World Cup commitments. He even joked that he had wondered why Messi had returned so quickly instead of staying on vacation, taking a boat and spending more time with his family. His conclusion? Messi clearly loves football. 

That is probably the least comforting scouting report Monterrey could have received.

Inter Miami Depleted Up Top

For Guillermo Hoyos, meanwhile, Messi’s return presents a very different challenge. Inter Miami’s coach has repeatedly emphasized the importance of allowing his Argentine stars to recover after the World Cup, but Messi returned sooner than expected and immediately reminded everyone why Miami wanted him back.

Hoyos previously explained that Messi and Rodrigo De Paul needed time after an exhausting World Cup, saying the priority was allowing them to rest and return only when they were truly ready. 

Now Messi is back, and judging by the San Luis game, “ready” apparently means scoring twice and creating another goal.

The bigger problem for Hoyos is that Miami cannot simply throw Luis Suárez into the lineup alongside him. Suárez is suspended for six Leagues Cup matches, while Germán Berterame and Tadeo Allende are also dealing with injuries. Miami even lost Mateo Silvetti to a shoulder injury in the opener. 

Hoyos has acknowledged that Suárez cannot simply be replaced, leaving Miami with considerably less depth in attack. That makes Messi’s form even more important as the Herons attempt to make another deep run in the competition.

And this is where Monterrey has an opportunity.

Rayados have the physicality, experience and individual talent to make life uncomfortable for Miami. They also have plenty of motivation after losing their opener. A victory in Florida would completely change the complexion of the group and give Almeyda’s team a huge boost.

But defending Messi is easier said than done. The Argentine has already demonstrated that he does not need much space, much time or apparently much vacation to change a game.

León vs. Orlando City: Chasing Perfection

Kickoff: 6:30pm ET / 3:30pm PT @ Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando FLStreaming on Apple TV+

Ninety minuted earlier on Saturday evening, León will visit Orlando City in another important matchup between Liga MX and MLS.

The two teams arrive with positive results from the opening round. León defeated Nashville SC 1-0 thanks to Daniel Arcila’s late goal, while Orlando City shocked Monterrey 2-1 behind goals from Griezmann and Spicer.

That victory puts Orlando in an excellent position, but León has the opportunity to take control of its group with another positive result.

The Mexican side will have to pay special attention to Griezmann, who has already shown that he can make an immediate impact in the tournament. Orlando’s pace in transition could also cause problems for León if the visitors become too aggressive looking for the win.

For León, however, the formula is simple: defend as well as it did against Nashville, find a way to score and avoid making Orlando’s attack look like it has discovered cheat codes.

Saturday’s two matches could therefore provide a major preview of where this Leagues Cup is heading. But the main event is unquestionably in Miami.